Wizards

CHAPTER 24: In Trance

To the other students, this day was one of the most nerve-wracking days in their school life. Rei could tell by the exaggerating reactions of the "beauty queens" and the "my-family-is-expecting-a-lot-from-me" type of classmates. To Rei, it was just examination day.

     Rei, watching Michelle by the windows meltdown, sat beside Mika in the room of Charms.

     "How are you not panicking?" asked Mika.

     "The real question is, why are you panicking? There is nothing to be nervous about."

     "Examination is a big thing, Rei!" answered Mika, "Grades are important in this world."

     "What do you mean?"

     "By the end of our third year, we will take the EMT — Extreme Magical Test. You cannot proceed to fourth year without passing it. And you can only take it three times. . . . And to take the EMT, you have to have passing grades — and some careers like Casters, or MPDs, requires an exceeding grades in EMT in the subjects such as Charms, Self-Defense, Morphosis, and Elementals. Exams are important. Grades are important."

     "I didn't think you were the type to worry about failing. I mean, you always sleep in our class, you're barely around, and I don't see you studying hard. Yet you're always receiving perfect scores." Rei paused in the middle, realizing that one thing about Mika.

     "Maybe I'm just smart?"

     "Or maybe you're cheating."

     "How and why will I cheat, Griffin?" Mika scoffed and left to sit on another chair.

     "Good morning, class!" said Professor Wareen, walking as though there was no time to spare. He threw the papers in the air and cast his wand. The papers distributed themselves on their own to all tables and the examinations began.

     First ten minutes in the exam and Claire on the far side of the room was already crying, accusing Professor Wareen of not teaching them the items that were listed on tests one and two — and she was right. But if she wasn't dumb, she'll know that it wasn't Professor Wareen who taught them that particular lesson, it was Eliot Reeve.

     It took most of the students an hour to finish the written exam; it took Mika less than thirty minutes, and Rei forty-five.

     Professor Wareen collected the papers, having a laugh at the groaning students. "You will not survive a day in our youth, children. Disappointing. Next is the practical exam," he said, walking out the classroom with a handful of papers with him. "I'll see you all at the field in thirty minutes."

     They all went to the field, waiting for the return of Professor Wareen. No one knows what the practical exam will be which made everyone anxious.

     "I didn't cheat," said Mika, "Or at least I don't consider it cheating."

     "Then what were you doing, if not cheating?"

     Rei met Mika's eyes as she brought her face closer to hers. Mika's eyes suddenly turned yellow and her pupils shrunk thinner, turning into cat-like eyes.

     "I'm a Shifter. I turn into a cat and snuck into the office. I don't look at the answer sheets . . . I just know the exam plans. I know exactly what to study."

     "Still cheating, Mika," said Rei.

     "How is that cheating?"

     "You're taking advantage."